Ballack bows out

BERLIN: Former Germany captain Michael Ballack has announced his retirement from football at the age of 36, ending a long career in which he played for Bayern Munich and Chelsea and reached the the 2002 World Cup final. Ballack, who returned to Bayer Leverkusen in 2010 but was left without a contract after last season, has been linked with a possible move to the US or Australia. – Reuters